Yana Klochkova

After more than a decade on the job, Ukrainian swimmer Yana Klochkova, the 2004 FINA swimmer of the year, felt the need to clock out and take a break. Klochkova, 22, had spent most of her life preparing to become a top-echelon swimmer. Since age 8, her training included five hours of daily workouts, four in the pool and one lifting weights, 11 months a year. "I've never really thought of doing anything else," Klochkova said Friday through a translator.

After more than a decade on the job, Ukrainian swimmer Yana Klochkova, the 2004 FINA swimmer of the year, felt the need to clock out and take a break. Klochkova, 22, had spent most of her life preparing to become a top-echelon swimmer. Since age 8, her training included five hours of daily workouts, four in the pool and one lifting weights, 11 months a year. "I've never really thought of doing anything else," Klochkova said Friday through a translator.

The 100-meter freestyle isn't one of Kaitlin Sandeno's top events, but her performance Friday at the TYR Swim Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo suggested otherwise. Sandeno, the American-record holder in the 400 individual medley, won the race in a personal-best 56.27 seconds, beating Lacey Nymeyer by .26 of a second. "I'm sure the win will turn some heads," said Sandeno, who won gold, silver and bronze medals at the 2004 Olympics. "A lot of people think of me as a long-distance swimmer.

The last time Amanda Beard and Kaitlin Sandeno competed against Ukrainian swimmer Yana Klochkova, they each earned silver medals in individual medley races at the 2004 Olympic Games; Klochkova took home the golds. Nearly 10 months later, the trio will race on a different continent and in different races today through Sunday at the TYR Swim Meet of Champions at the Marguerite Recreation Center in Mission Viejo.

Haley Cope outlasted Inge de Bruijn in the anchor leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay today to help clinch an American victory over Europe in the opening event of the Goodwill Games swimming program. American Kirsten Caverly won the 200 breaststroke and the 400 individual medley, and teammate Amy Balcerzak-Field took the 50 and 100 breaststroke events to give the Americans an 82-67 victory in the head-to-head team competition.

Brooke Bennett finally caught Janet Evans. Bennett, of Plant City, Fla., took her second individual gold medal, winning the 800 freestyle in an Olympic record of 8 minutes 19.67 seconds. The previous mark, 8:20.20 by Janet Evans, stood since the 1988 Seoul Games. Bennett, who also won the 400 freestyle, has been aiming for the Evans records for years. "It's so exciting, so overwhelming to get two gold medals and break records," said Bennett, who was 3.

It wasn't the Olympics, but Kaitlin Sandeno still exacted some revenge from Yana Klochkova on Sunday at the final day of the TYR Swim Meet of Champions at Mission Viejo. Sandeno, who was runner-up to Klochkova in the 400 individual medley at the 2004 Olympics, defeated Klochkova in the 200 medley with a time of 2:16.46. Klochkova finished third in 2:18.96, and Maiko Fujino of Japan was second in 2:16.80.

If the torch can be passed in a swimming pool, it happened here in the final event Saturday, the women's 400-meter freestyle relay at the Olympics. The greatest relay swimmer in recent history couldn't hold a lead, and a new generation, led by Australian Jodie Henry, stepped right up. So often, 31-year-old American Jenny Thompson has been the closer on successful relays, but this time, it wasn't even close.